Release Detail

April 22, 2002 - Keep American Troops Out Of Mideast,
Most New York Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll;
Arafat Is A Terrorist, But Only 44 % Side With Israel

By a 64 - 29 percent margin, New York State voters oppose sending U.S. troops to serve as
peace keepers between the Israelis and Palestinians, according to a Quinnipiac University
poll released today. In a separate measure, Jewish voters oppose the use of U.S. troops 52 -
38 percent.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is a terrorist, New York State voters say 57 - 27
percent; 85 percent of Jewish voters say Arafat is a terrorist.

Seventeen percent of voters, and 7 percent of Jewish voters, say Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon is a terrorist, while 64 percent of all voters and 90 percent of Jewish
voters say he is not.

Only 44 percent of New York State voters say their sympathies lie more with Israel,
while 17 percent say their sympathies lie more with the Palestinians and 39 percent are
undecided. Among Jewish voters, 89 percent sympathize with Israel while 2 percent side
with the Palestinians.

"While there is very little support for Arafat and the Palestinians, support for Israel
among voters in general is not overwhelming," said Maurice Carroll, director of the
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

The Palestinians are more responsible for the outbreak of violence, 53 percent of all
voters say, while 17 percent say the Israelis are more responsible. Among Jewish voters,
89 percent blame the Palestinians.

Only 29 percent of New York State voters say there will be peace someday between
Israel and the Palestinians, while 62 percent say there will never be peace; 36 percent of
Jewish voters expect peace someday, while 53 percent do not.

Current Mideast fighting makes a terrorist attack in the U.S. more likely, 50 percent
of voters say, while 6 percent say the current violence makes a terrorist attack less likely and
36 percent say it does not make a difference. Results among Jewish voters are similar.

New York State voters split 46 - 44 percent on whether Israel's military response to
Palestinian attacks is likely to increase hostility against Jews in the U.S. Jewish voters
expect 63 - 32 percent an increase in hostility against Jews.

"Just read the headlines from Europe and you can see why Jewish voters are
concerned that increased violence in the Middle East could touch off an increase in anti-
Semitism in the U.S.," Carroll said.

From April 11 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 905 New York State registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percent. An oversample of Jewish registered
voters produced a net sample of 323 Jewish voters with a margin of error of +/- 5.5 percent
for the separate survey.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and nationwide as a public
service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201

4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling
his job as President?

20. Which statement is closer to your own view:
ROTATED
A) The Israelis are justified in taking military action in response to the
recent suicide bombing attacks by the Palestinians.
or
B) The Israelis should have tried harder to reach a diplomatic solution to
the conflict with the Palestinians before taking military action.

21. Which statement is closer to your own view:
ROTATED
A) The goal of most Palestinians is to have their own state and then
live in peace with Israel
OR
B) The goal of most Palestinians is to have their own state and then
destroy Israel?

26. Do you think the current fighting between Israel and the Palestinians
will make a terrorist attack against the United States more likely to
happen in the near future, less likely to happen, or won't it make any
difference?